Reading: The Munchausen paradigm for deprived neighbourhoods: pulling yourself out of the swamp of de...

Articles

The Munchausen paradigm for deprived neighbourhoods: pulling yourself out of the swamp of deprivation

Authors:

Jeannette Nijkamp,

About Jeannette

Dr. Jeannette Nijkamp is a researcher and principal lecturer at the Research Centre Innovations in Care and the Research Centre Creating 010 at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. In 2016 she completed her PhD research into the effects of creative entrepreneurs on deprived neighbourhoods.

Chris Kuiper

About Chris

Abstract

The Munchausen paradigm for deprived neighbourhoods: pulling yourself out of the swamp of deprivation

Since the 1980s, many initiatives have attempted to tackle the deprivation currently experienced in South Rotterdam. Efforts have been made to attract creative workers and, in a counter-reaction, other initiatives have aimed to encourage the creative talents of poorer residents to strengthen their economic position. One example of this is Freehouse, which has established projects in the Afrikaanderwijk, including a neighbourhood cooperative. Our article addresses two questions: 1) What are the effects of the Freehouse projects on the economic position of residents of the Afrikaanderwijk? and 2) Which insights do our results provide into the possible effects of local government policies that rely on citizens playing an active role? Although the economic effects of the projects were limited, our study reveals that citizens’ initiatives, such as the Afrikaander Cooperative, can help residents gain employment. In order to succeed, these initiatives should not be hindered by obstructive regulations, and they should include input from the residents who function as staff. However, in deprived neighbourhoods, many residents require support to be able to contribute to citizens’ initiatives, and cannot be expected to act like Baron Münchausen and pull themselves out of the swamp of deprivation by their own hair.

How to Cite:
Nijkamp, J., Burgers, J. and Kuiper, C., 2017. The Munchausen paradigm for deprived neighbourhoods: pulling yourself out of the swamp of deprivation. Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice, 26(2), pp.27–42. DOI: http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.526